Spotlight



June l2, 1928.

L. M. WALDEN SPOTLIGHT Filed Feb. 24, 1925 I Patented June 12, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LESTER M. WALDEN, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SPOTLIGHT.

' 12' l Application filed February My invention relates to dirigible lamps or spotlights for motor vehicles and the like and has particular reference to a means for mounting such lamps. y

The primary object of the invention is to provide a new and improved mounting for dirigible lamps whereby the lamp may be positioned near the forward end of a vehicle chassis so as to be capable of manual adjustment over a wide range from a remote point of control. j

Another object is to provide a means of an advantageous character for mounting spotlights for swingable movement about two perpendicular and intersecting axes, the movement about one axis being effected by rotation of a lamp-carrying shaft which has a beveled gear connection with the actuating mechanism.

Still another object is to provide av spotlight adjustable from a remote point through the medium of a flexible operating rod coinprising rigid sections between which is interposed a helically coiled spring'.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description. y

In the drawings Figure 1 is a fragmentary side view partially in section showing a spotf light and mounting therefor embodying the features of my invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is afront view taken along line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation of the actuating mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the manner of mounting the actuating rod in a dash board.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, designates a dirigible lamp or spotlight mounted on an automobile chassis frame 11 and adapted to be adjusted from a remote point of control such as the dash 12. Lamps of this typeeusually comprise a reflector casing 13, a lens 13a and a' bulb 14.

The reflector casing 13 has a central opening in which is rigidly mounted aA rearwardly projecting tube or stem 15 providing at its forward end a socket for'thebulb 14.` To connect the bulb electrically with lead wires 16, a suitable Contact plug 17 is inserted in the tube 15 and held therein by an aperturedibre disk 18. l j l .n n,

24,l 1925. Serial No. 11,015.

The means which I have provided for supporting the lamp 10 comprises a member or bracket 19 adapted to be mounted near the forward end of the chassis frameV 11 of an 60 automobile. Preferably, the bracket is cony structed of two opposite side plates 20 joined together by a rigidtop wall 21 and having upwardly inclined forward extensions yor arms 22. In fthe `present instance, the bracket is mounted on the chassis frame 11 so as to project a substantial distance through a longitudinal` opening 23 in the outer shell 25 of theradiator 24.v Such an opening might be specially formed near one vertical edge of any automobile radiatorr duringfthe process of manufacture. To mount the bracket 19 in the opening 23` the side plates 2O neartheir rear ends` are formed with overlapping lateral extensions 26 which may be rigidly anchored to the frame 11 by bolts 27 preferably at a point just behind the j radiator shell 25. Thus the bracket and the operating parts supported therein are cork cealed in the motor compartment of the autoymobile. n

Abearing'block 2,8 is mounted betweenfhe arms 22von its end trunnions 29 and is thus adaptedfor pivotal movement about a horizontal axis extending perpendicular to the side walls of the bracket 19. Journaled in the bearing block 28 andextending fatl right n angles to thepivotal axis thereof, is a' shaft 30 which carries a clamping ring'31 `for sup,- porting the stem 15 of the lamp 10. 'The clamping ring 31 has a depending portion 32 which is recessed to receive the upper end of the shaft 30 and the 'ring is rigidly connected to the shaft by' a locking pin Suitable means such as the set screw 34 is employed to fasten thelamp stem 15 adjustably in theclamping ring 31. 'It will be observed that .the depending portion 32 bears against the top of the bearing block 28 and thus holdsthe shaft 30 against downyward movementi'n its journal. To provide abearing shoulder 35 on the underside of the bearing block 28, thev lower portion 'of the shaft 30 is of an increased size.

Means is provided forrotatin'g the-,shaft 30 to swing the lamp 10 laterally. For this purpose, a bevel gea`r`36 rigidly secured to the lower end of' the' shaft 30imeshes with a bevel gear 37 rigid with` the end of a shaft 38. Said shaft `38 is journaled` 1n a housingV 39 which also `has bearings 40 .and l1 011 Sheff? 3Q.` To yfacilitate assembly 44 respectively and thereby hold the gearsr 36 and 37 constantlyin mash. lThus, 'the housing 39 is supportedI on the shaft 3() sothat it'may'besivung 'about thehorizontal axis" ofthe bearing block- 28.

'Fro'rn' the foregoing it Will be apparent that bylrnovi'ng 'a vsingle element,fthefgear shaft38,`the"'lamp l0`ma'y besivung about two 'intersecting and 'perpendicular axes. 'I`hu'sv by 'rotating the shaft 38, the lamp a Willbeswvung vlaterally.from side to side about the axis of the shaft 30, Bvmoving the shia se enawise; they' lamp win'y be tilted u`1o`r`dovvn, theI horizontal 'axis of theblock 28" being the pivotal center 'for this movel ment. If'desired, the lateralsiving ofthe lamp 'may'be'liinite'diby providing an' inte grallug on theclamping'ring,30 in such a position rthat it, Will @engage upstanding ,pins 46h11', the bearing? bleek '28.

,'D'ual'adjustmentlof the lamp labout the intersecting axesis e'rffectedfin tl'ie'lpre'sent instance, bylinparting torsional and axial forcesto thegearsha'ft 38 through Van operatingfr'od leading to the remotep'o'int of control, in this instance the dash 12. lThe operating "fed prefembiy is formed inl une@ sections 47, 48 and 49. lSection 4`8`is a rigidiodmounted for yrotary andrecipro- Acatr'y n'ovementiinafixed bearing 'sleeve 50 which issupportedat'each of its ends l,byafpair 'of apertureddugs 51 out from theopposed portions of the side plates 2.0 and bent inwardly in overlapping'relation. To provide a suitable fiexible connection b'etvveen the section 48 and shaft 38operating rod sectionl 47 comprises a rigid rod joined respectively to the rear end lof shaft 38 andfto l'the yforward end of 'rod .48'by universals 52 and 53. The'construc-- tion" of the operatingrod section IQ-constitutes a panticiilarfeature,of thepresent invention which ,'Will 'now Abe described. f

Toeffect rotation and'reoil'qrocation ofthe 'rod 48 from 'a @point not `alined With `the 'axis ofzthe v"rod, i-t isessential that aconl' n'ection "be yprovided Which Ais 'sufficiently fie'xible to'perinitlthe transmission ofproper twisting movement and 'Which, "at vthe 'same time, has sufficient'v stiffness to l transmit axial forces. Forllthis purpose,I`have provided tgWo rigid rod seotions'v54 connected by means 'of afle'xible universal joint '55 inthe yform ,of .3, helically coiled spring of' severalfturns. A similar joiiitr`56 connects sectiovnz49 livith sect-ion isefthe operating-ien. These @oils fare'fined ffifom 1Wire stock of siich'si'ze an ges,ilieneyfas` tgivethe requisite degree df fi'xlbility "'and"stlfness Flexibility of V"the rod section 49"ivill also depend "on the-"length, diameter and c'ompactness of the coll. rBoth the rod sections 54 by suitable fittings 57 having opposite end recesses 57il in which the ends of rods 54 and coil 55 are secured by means of set screws 58. In the position shown in Fig. l, the lower end of the coil 5 6 extends angularly with respect to the coil axis. The fiexible connecting section ,49, thus Vprovided yaffords an effioient'meansfor simultaneously impartingy both torsional and axial forces Vto a shaft `vfrom a p`o1nt not alined Withthe vshaft axis.4 @bviously this constructionis positive and noiseless in operation l"and 'inexpensive 'y to manufacture. M p A,

The rear'en'd or rod "54 projects A'through a bearing ring 59 on the dash and isjl'ro vided `with a'hanfdle 60' wvhichdnay b'e'con-` veniently grasped when 'the 'lamp l() '1s to beadjuste'd. To hold the lamp in adjust-ed position, a fibre "disk 61 is'heldin frietional engagement with therodr 54 by`meaii's`ofa set screw 62 threaded into fan 'opening 63 intobearing ring 59. If desired, thespotlight switch 64 may be attached to the-ring 59. l llVhile I have shown inthe drawings and described in detail the preferred embodiment of my invention, it shouldibe understood'that such disclosure lis made merely 'for the purpose ofillustration and th'atother modifications and variations ivillp'rob'ably ,occur to those skilled in the art.` I aim ii'tthefappended claims` to cover all such' modifications and variations. y v

I claim as my invention: A

l. A spotlight having, in Combination, "a frame, a Vlamp'-carrying" vshaft frotatahly mounted in said frame and Aadapted forgpivsoy otal movement on an axis extending perpendicular to `and intersecting its own? rotational axis, a second "shaft operatively' connected to said first ymentioned lshaft 'and'ha-vinlg its axis extending perpendicular ,to Athe pivotal axis and intei'seoting'the rotational axis'of said first mentioned shaft, an actuating rod mounted in said frame formo'venint on a fixed axis, said rod havinga-'fiexible voonnection With' said last mentioned"shaftivhereby torsional and axial forces'imparted to the rod Will effect rotary 'and pivotalino've ment of said "first mentionedshaft. l l,

2. A spotlight having, in combinations frame member, a lamp-carrying shaft mounted on said member to turn on tvvo, intersecting axes, a lvsecond shaft 'operatively 'conneoted to said `first mentioned shaft and`extending perpendicular to andiinterseeting' lll! last mentioned shaft so that by twisting and reciprocating the rod said rstmentioned shaft will be turned on its respective axes.

3. A spotlight having, in combination, a supporting bracket comprising a pair of side plates, a. rotatable lamp carrying member mounted between said plates near the forward end thereof, said member being adapted for pivotal movement about an axis perpendicular to said plates, a rod mounted between said plates with its axis extending perpendicular to and positioned substantially below the pivotal axis of said rotatable member, the forward end of said rod having an operative connection with said member, and means for twisting and reciprocating said rod to effect rotatory and pivotal movement of said lamp carrying member.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto aflixed my signature.

LESTER MWALDEN. 

